Tomato advice please

[Dorothy rouse]

Starting feeding my toms today with the feed you buy in a red bottle and dilute in watering can, and it all flows out bottom of pot/hanging basket, now this is problem I know you shouldn't get it over the foliage , but as I watered the ganging baskets, it flowed out of the bottom onto the toms growing underneath. Is this a disaster? Will the leaves just die?

I did remove some lower leaves yesterday, ones that looked a bit manky.

These are the ones growing outside on balcony, are close together and probably far too many, should I try moving them every time, ( v limited movability).

On the positive side, the whitefly have gone, just sprayed them with water with a touch of soap diluted, thank you to whoever it was suggested that.

[johnjohn]

Hi Dotty,

The leaves may scorch if you get some sun but if your weather is like ours its probably not an issue!

Perhaps you could do the watering in the evening instead and then add the feed once the baskets have had a soak?

[Bigmallly]

I think it is something you cant avoid Dotty. I have the same issues with some Rambling Red Stripe (double hanging basket) but never gave it a thought as they are doing ok.

[Bill HH]

I think it will act as a foliar feed to the lower toms, win win.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Although it says on the bottle 'not to allow the mix on the leaves' from experience I would say this is advisory more than compulsory. I have had it happen a number of times with no ill effect.

I would follow the advice above though and water before you feed purely because the feed is running through and will do little good. Also check your watering schedule, liquid running through like that is usually a sign the compost is to dry, it shrinks when it dry's and allows your water/feed to run straight through.

[Dorothy rouse]

Thank you all, I did water them yesterday, so compost was in fact very wet, so think it ran through cos was already wet, maybe I gave them too much. Complicated innit!

[Dorothy rouse]

So I remember, I've decided that 'feeding day' will be Friday, so I remember, ( uhh yes I know today is Saturday), but as from next week 'Friday Feeding day'.

[lottie dolly]

what i have done before now is,after watering,feed the plants with only a little water so it's a very strong mix,and just dribble it over the wet compost,that way it should not wash through and the already wet compost should dilute it and not run out,or lift the pots off and let them soak up water and feed,

[Jeanied]

Why not invert a plastic bottle,with a few needle holes in the lid, with the bottom cut off into the basket - then pour the water/ feed - like a drip system.

[Nannysally99]

So I remember, I've decided that 'feeding day' will be Friday, so I remember, ( uhh yes I know today is Saturday), but as from next week 'Friday Feeding day'.

We have Friday feeding day too Dorothy, great minds think alike